Burial-casket.



`No. 684,293. Patented Oct. '8, |90I.

J. C. F. MGGRIFF.

BURIAL GASKET.

(Application filed Oct; 17, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Nn. 684,293. Patented out. a, |901.

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BURIAL GASKET'. (Application filed Oct. 17,*1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. F. MCGRIFF, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BU RlAL-CAS KET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,293, dated October 8, 1901.

Application ledOctober 17, 1900. Serial No. 33.333. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. F. MCGRIEF, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Burial-Gaskets; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in receptacles for the bodies of deceased persons.

It consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l is a longitudinal section on the line cc Fig. 2, of my improved burial-casket. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line y 'y of Fig. l. Fig. 43 is a view of the headplate of the casket. Fig. 4f is a perspective view of the bier. Fig. 5 is a view of the key for locking the head of the casket. Figs. '6, 7, 8, and 9 are enlarged details to be hereinafter referred to.

In order to make a burial-casket absolutely sanitary, it must necessarily be air-tight, and in order to insure its being air-tight the case should be made without screw or bolt holes or openings of any description save the one for the introduction or removal of the body and its support, the opening on top to receive a face-glass, and an aperture by which' the air-tight qualities of the case may be tested, and these openings provided with a means by which the case can be hermetically sealed.

My case may be made of rolled, stamped, or other sheet-metal, or it may be made of any Vsuitable pulped material, molded into any vdesired shape and without joints.

formed an opening, which is here shown as circular; but it may be made of other shape, if preferred. Within the case is fitted a false bottom or frame made of Wood or suitable material, as shown at 3, and with the exception of this the interior of the case may be made entirely plain and unornamental, but may be covered with a lining of porcelain or other indestructible substance. However, when desired upholstering to suit the purchaser may be added, being attached by means of ring-bands. This frame 3 is secured -in place either by beveled or inclined guides 4 at the bottom of the case or by screw or other bolts passing through the frame and pressing against the interior sides, or in any other suitable manner. It is provided with guides or rollers 5, which serve for the easy entrance and removal of the bier or bodysupport 6, or, it' preferred, the bier may be provided with wheels or rollers adapted to travel upon the bottom of the case. Suitable anges 6" are curved inwardly or otherwise formed to engage the framework or edges of the bier to prevent it from being tilted or tipped out of place in case of an upset or reversal of the parts. At the foot end of the case is a small opening having a screwplug 8, by which it can be hermetically closed. This opening serves as a test-hole, through which the case can be tested by air or other pressure to be sure of its being hermetically closed before leaving the factory or at any other time or for introduction of any preservative. This .hole may also be used to pass a cord or other device through to assist in drawing the bier or support into place. The bier or support is preferably so devised that it can be properly upholstered, and it may be made of any suitable or desired shape, with concaved sides or otherwise. I prefer to arrange the bier with transverse-arched ribs 9, over which silk or other ornamental curtain or concealing material can be fixed to slide, so that it can be drawn up over the bier vto entirely cover the body after the latter has y been placed thereon, or it may be withdrawn,

placement of the body is prevented. The

IOO

edges of the bier maybe provided with holes for the purpose of fastening the upholstery or trimmings.

The foot andvhead rests and the draperyrods are made detachable, so that they are removable when desired, as in case of cremation.

At the head end of the case is an opening, through which the bier with the body is to be inserted. This opening when made circular may be closed by a screw-threaded head 10, iitted therein, with gasket or other suitable means for forming a tight joint. This screwthreaded head has at its outer edge a iiange 11. A collar 12 is provided upon the end of the case and surrounding the opening, and when the head 10 is screwed down the flange ll will be seated snugly against the case and close Within the collar. A recess 1S is in the outer side of the head 10,having at the bottom other transverse recesses 14. A key 15 is adapted to beinserted in the recess 13,by which the head or cap is screwed into position. Y The key is then Withdrawn and the recess closed with alock-block, as 2l, as shown in Fig. 7. In this figure is shown the pins 22 with an interposed spring, which spring is compressed by the pins in the act of inserting the block in the recess 13, and the moment the pins come opposite the recesses let in the head 10 the spring forces Vthe pins outward, and the block is thus permanently locked. In the block 21 is also formed a recess 24 to receive any proper instrument, as a key, by which to turn the block. In Fig. 8 these same parts are shown in plan.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I illustrate one form of mechanism to be employed when the block 21 is to be removably secured. In these igures a key 25 serves to place the block into its position and when that is done also to move the locking-pins 22 so that they will engage with the recesses 14.

If the head-end opening be made rectangular or of other similar shape, it can be bolted on with a hermetically-sealing gasket, the bolt-holes being so disposed as not to pass into the interior of the case or to leave any opening through which leakage may occur, the Whole object of this part of the apparatus being to insure, first, a tight joint, and, secondly, to prevent the casket being opened surreptitiously or by unauthorized persons.

As shown, my casket-case really consists of but three parts capable of being hermetically joined. The longitudinal or upper and lower parts a and a are put together at the factory by such means as are best adapted for the purpose. A flange 19 is formed where these parts join, to which handles 2O are attached, thus obviating the necessity of any screws or bolts penetrating the case and impairing its air-tight character. The third part of the case is the head, already described.

If the body is to be transported to a considerable distance by conveyance of any description, it may be rmly secured to the bier or support by straps or otherwise, kthe device being adapted for this purpose. It may also be found desirable to make an opening in the top of the casing to receive a face-plate 16,

through which the face of thedeceased can Y j be seen, and in conjunction with this will beV a cap or cover adapted to tit over and form a protection and seal over the face-plate similar to the cap described for opening one end. With such construction the body may either be buried within the case or casket or it may be conveyed to a proper point and the support or bier removed for the purposes of cremation or it may be'disposed of in any other manner.

I do not wish to limit myself to the material used or to the manner in which the par-ts are put together. f Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y.

l. A burial-casket consisting of a casecomprising a single unitary structure devoid of lateral joints and of greater length thanthe body to bereceived, and sealed hermetically, except fora circular opening at one end, a body-supportv intended to be introduced into the case through this opening, ascrew-threaded cap or head fitting this opening, said cap having an annular flange adapted to rest upon the edge of this opening and Within and against a collar projection upon the end of the case, and means by which this cap may be screwed into position, and an air-tight joint formed.

2. A burial-casket comprising a case andal separate body-support having end projections between which the bodyv is adapted to rest and by which lengthwise displacement of the body is prevented.

A burial-casket consistingof a case sealed except at one end and a closure for said end, a false bottom or frame and means by which it is secured in place said bottom or frame having guides or rollers, and a separate bodysupport having upwardly-extending retaining-walls to prevent displacement of the body.`

4. In a burial-casket, a body-support consistin g of a base having upward terminal prone 'Y jections between which the body is adapted Y to rest, and which projections prevent lateral displacement of the body, and means by which drapery coverings may be attached to the body-support.

5. In a burial-casket, a body-support consisting of a base having upward terminal projections between which the body is adapted to rest and to be held, transverse-arched ribs upon the sides of the support and upon which ribs drapery coverings are to be supported, and drapery-fastenings upon the side of the support, and said projections and ribs capable of being detached from the support.

6. A burial-casket consisting of a case substantially as described havinga circular opening at-one end, a removable bottom secured within the case having rollers upon which a body-support to be introduced into the case through said opening is adapted to run, a screw-threaded cap tting this opening, a socket in this cap to receive a key by which the cap may be locked in position, an opening at the other end of the case by which the hermetic qualities of the case may be tested, and preservatives injected to the case, a closure for said opening, an exterior lateral flange upon the case, and handles.

7. In a burial-casket, the combination of a case, a removable false bottom therein, said case having its sides provided with longitudinal recesses in which the bottom fits and by Which the latter is prevented from displacement, and means whereby this false bottom may be securely held in said recesses.

8. A burial-casket including a case having an opening at one end through which the body may be inserted, a closure for said open end said closure having a central opening, and a lock-block fitting the opening of the closure and securing the latter.

'In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN C. F. MCGRIFF.

Witnesses';

S. H. NOURSE, CEAS. E. TOWNSEND. 

